Israeli skaters reach finals for first time

Alexei Bychenko and Daniel Samohin became the first-ever Israelis to reach the finals of the figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics after a series of impressive performnaces in Pyeongchang.

Gliding on the ice to the tune of Hava Nagila, Ukrainian-born Bychenko finished ninth with 172.88 points while Samohin, the Tel Aviv-born son of Russian immigrants, finished 11th with 170.75 points. The duo also helped the Israel team finish eighth in the team event last week.

It has been a competition to forget for Israel’s top medal hope, Vladislav Bykanov. The speed skater finished last in his heat in the 500m - his weakest distance - after being disqualified last week in both the 1,500m and 1,000m events for pushing opponents.

Ronald Zilberberg and Adel Tankova were last in the ice dance event while US-born Adam Edelman, nicknamed the ‘Hebrew Hammer’ finished 28th in the men's skeleton event in a time of 52.35 seconds.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

The JC offers several email newsletters to keep you updated with our news, features and comment. Take your pick from a daily update, the Editor's weekly selections, politics and sport — or choose all four.